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Google co-founder Larry Page is now a New Zealand resident

19 points by bjoko 5y ago

fallingfrog 5y ago
New Zealand is the most popular destination for ultra wealthy people who are trying to flee the possible coming collapse of society. The plan i think is that once the earth is pillaged sufficiently that systems start breaking down they’re going to f** off to New Zealand and sip martinis in their bunkers while we kill each other off. Then they will become lords- a ”cognitive elite”- of a sort of corporate-feudal city-state system. I think it’s kind of silly, but evidently they don’t, which is worrisome. https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/feb/15/why-silicon-valley-billionaires-are-prepping-for-the-apocalypse-in-new-zealand https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/feb/15/why-silicon-val...
- Accujack 5y ago
  It's actually good news that they think this. It means they have no concept of or understanding of what's happening to the world, and that means they're not capable of becoming the "elite" you mention. Being in NZ is pleasant but it's just as vulnerable as the rest of the world to climate change and war, and being there won't protect them anyway... it just isolates them and makes it easier for them to be found in the event that we need someone to blame for the decay of civilization. Protip for the apocalypse: If you want to be in charge after the end of the world, don't hide out... use your wealth to stockpile easily maintainable farming and manufacturing machines and parts, durable goods that will be difficult to maintain after a collapse, weapons to defend them and maintainable/repairable means of transportation. Don't assume you'll be able to scavenge parts or working machines, plan to manufacture what you need yourself from raw materials and be able to manufacture (with great effort, of course) new machines and tools. Also critically important is a means of creating safe water, preferably also with maintainable machines and processes. If the world ends, the people who can maintain a more advanced level of technology than average and use it to feed people and control territory will be the most powerful. That's one thing Mad Max got right.
  - smackeyacky 5y ago
    New Zealand is actually a logical place to hole up. Small population and low population density, plenty of fresh water straight from the sky, fertile soils and it's a long, long way from everywhere. Stockpiling a bunch of tractors you can't get diesel for doesn't strike me as being a particularly good move when what you really want in a feudal society is a defensible castle and enough dependent serfs for an irregular defence force. New Zealand may be the last place on the planet where those are easily constructed and organised.
Proven 5y ago
After he helped the Dems turn the US into a shitshow.

19 points by bjoko 5y ago

New Zealand is the most popular destination for ultra wealthy people who are trying to flee the possible coming collapse of society. The plan i think is that once the earth is pillaged sufficiently that systems start breaking down they’re going to f** off to New Zealand and sip martinis in their bunkers while we kill each other off. Then they will become lords- a ”cognitive elite”- of a sort of corporate-feudal city-state system. I think it’s kind of silly, but evidently they don’t, which is worrisome. https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/feb/15/why-silicon-valley-billionaires-are-prepping-for-the-apocalypse-in-new-zealand https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/feb/15/why-silicon-val...

Accujack 5y ago
It's actually good news that they think this. It means they have no concept of or understanding of what's happening to the world, and that means they're not capable of becoming the "elite" you mention. Being in NZ is pleasant but it's just as vulnerable as the rest of the world to climate change and war, and being there won't protect them anyway... it just isolates them and makes it easier for them to be found in the event that we need someone to blame for the decay of civilization. Protip for the apocalypse: If you want to be in charge after the end of the world, don't hide out... use your wealth to stockpile easily maintainable farming and manufacturing machines and parts, durable goods that will be difficult to maintain after a collapse, weapons to defend them and maintainable/repairable means of transportation. Don't assume you'll be able to scavenge parts or working machines, plan to manufacture what you need yourself from raw materials and be able to manufacture (with great effort, of course) new machines and tools. Also critically important is a means of creating safe water, preferably also with maintainable machines and processes. If the world ends, the people who can maintain a more advanced level of technology than average and use it to feed people and control territory will be the most powerful. That's one thing Mad Max got right.
- smackeyacky 5y ago
  New Zealand is actually a logical place to hole up. Small population and low population density, plenty of fresh water straight from the sky, fertile soils and it's a long, long way from everywhere. Stockpiling a bunch of tractors you can't get diesel for doesn't strike me as being a particularly good move when what you really want in a feudal society is a defensible castle and enough dependent serfs for an irregular defence force. New Zealand may be the last place on the planet where those are easily constructed and organised.

Proven 5y ago

After he helped the Dems turn the US into a shitshow.